Hayward Lakes Sherry
01-25-2011, 10:53 AM
January 24, 2011
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Winter recreation trails – snowmobile, cross-country, and ATV – are groomed and in excellent condition, and ice anglers have excellent travel conditions on the lakes. This week’s forecast predicts light snow and highs in the 20s – there may be no better time this winter to get out and enjoy the north woods!
“We have near perfect ice fishing conditions,” says Pat at Happy Hooker. “You can expect 15-20 inches of ice, but be careful if you’re driving on it.
“Walleye fishing is fair, with some lakes producing nice fish. Use shiners or walleye suckers under tip-ups. Best action is in late afternoon, and the bite begins a littler earlier on the dark water lakes and flowages. Start at about 12 feet and move shallower as evening progresses.
“Northerns are hitting and they feed all day. Fish weeds with golden shiners on light wire leaders and treble hooks.
“Crappies are taking minnows in deep weeds and brush piles and bluegills are hitting waxies. For perch, fish eight feet of water right on drop-offs with crappie minnows or fatheads.”
Ice conditions are very good, says Al at Pastika’s, with excellent driving conditions.
“Walleye fishing is fair to good and better just before and into dark. Fish weeds in 14-17 feet of water with walleye sucker and shiners under tip-ups or jig fatheads. Fish weeds for northerns with shiners for action and large northern suckers for trophies. Crappies are suspending in deeper water, and some are holding close to the bottom. Use crappie minnows, waxies, spikes, and plastics. Bluegills are taking waxies, spikes, and plastics near weeds and cribs. Perch action is good on the bottom in 15-25 feet of water with fatheads on jigs, jigging spoons, and tip-ups.”
At Hayward Bait, Bob says ice conditions are awesome and most lakes have16 inches or more of ice.
“Walleye anglers are having success in 10-25 feet of water fishing walleye suckers and shiners under tip-ups or jigging fatheads and rosy reds. For northerns, use northern suckers or shiners in 8-15 feet of water. Catch crappies in 15-25 feet by jigging grubs and plastics, or with crappie minnows and rosy reds under tip-downs. Bluegills, in 5-15 feet, are taking teardrops tipped with waxies, spikes, and plastics.”
According to DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt, conditions are good on nearly all lakes. Ice depths are holding at 12-15 inches, with 6-8 inches of light, grainy snow on top. Snowmobiles and four-wheel-drives are accessing most lake areas and slush is not a problem.
“Fishing success is approaching mid-winter lows,” Sommerfeldt says. “Some lakes have poor success, others have good action. Check with local bait shops to learn about those hot spots.”
The biologist says walleye action is very erratic and on some lakes, fish are extremely finicky.
“For about 20 minutes, about an hour before dark, the fish are on mud/sand flats in 5-8 feet of water hitting large fatheads or small walleye suckers. Meet all those conditions or you will not catch many walleye.
“Northern action is decent during mid-day with shiners or large northern suckers near weed beds. Many shallow, weedy pike lakes show lower oxygen levels near bottom and anglers may need to move their bait closer to the surface.
“Panfish action, particularly for bluegills and perch, is more consistent. Crappies are tougher to find. Bluegills are taking waxies just off bottom in 10-15 feet of water, and perch are hitting small fatheads in 5-10 feet of water.”
The January 24 Hayward Lakes Visitors and Convention Bureau trail report indicates 12-18 inches of snow cover and excellent trail conditions. Trails 3, 5, and 21 around Moose Lake are in great condition. Until the confusion is resolved with Trail 30 by the Casino, work your way through the Casino, motor home, and Subway parking lots. The Sawyer County-Washburn County segment of the Tuscobia State Trail is open to ATV use.
Trail closures include: Trail 25 south from the Tuscobia to Big Bear Lodge on the way to Rusk County (use trail 36 as an alternate); Trail 40 from the Tuscobia mouth to Trail 25/Dead Horse (use Trail 25 as an alternate); Trail 29 from Little Round Lake to Trail 30 (use trails 9 and 3 as alternates.)
The Namakagon Trails Report of January 22 says trails are in excellent condition. Both groomers are running and only the high traffic spots are a little rough.
The January 20 Lakewoods Resort trail report says trails are snow covered, groomed, and in good to great condition. Groomers are steadily grooming the daily lake-effect snow (amounting to a couple inches every few days.) The Lake Namakagon trail is in good condition with smooth surfaces. When traveling the narrows between Middle and Upper lakes, watch for a plowed area within 50 yards of the southwest side of the trail.
Upcoming Events
Jan. 25: Winter crow season opened.
Jan. 29: Schultz’s Resort beach party Northwoods Humane Society fundraiser (715-945-2223.)
Jan. 29: Northwest Relic Riders Big Boyz Toyz Vintage Ride (Winter.)
Jan. 31: Seasons Close: Squirrel; Ruffed grouse in northern zone.
Feb. 5: Cable Rod and Gun Club Ice Fishing Contest on Lake Namakagon (715-798-4459.)
Feb. 5: Northwest Relic Riders 5th Annual Kaye Johnson Memorial vintage snowmobile ride.
Feb. 12: Walleyes for Northwest Wisconsin Family Ice Fishing Event (715-634-2921.)
Feb. 15: Seasons Close: Coyote trapping; Raccoon; Red and gray fox.
Feb. 24-26: American Birkebeiner (715-634-5025.)
Feb. 28: Seasons Close: Cottontail rabbit; Mink trapping.
March 4-6: World’s Longest Weenie Roast Lakewoods Resort
March 4-6: Hayward National Snocross, LCO Casino Lodge and Convention Center.
For more information on area events and activities, see the Calendar of Events, visit Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau, or call 1-800-724-2992.
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Winter recreation trails – snowmobile, cross-country, and ATV – are groomed and in excellent condition, and ice anglers have excellent travel conditions on the lakes. This week’s forecast predicts light snow and highs in the 20s – there may be no better time this winter to get out and enjoy the north woods!
“We have near perfect ice fishing conditions,” says Pat at Happy Hooker. “You can expect 15-20 inches of ice, but be careful if you’re driving on it.
“Walleye fishing is fair, with some lakes producing nice fish. Use shiners or walleye suckers under tip-ups. Best action is in late afternoon, and the bite begins a littler earlier on the dark water lakes and flowages. Start at about 12 feet and move shallower as evening progresses.
“Northerns are hitting and they feed all day. Fish weeds with golden shiners on light wire leaders and treble hooks.
“Crappies are taking minnows in deep weeds and brush piles and bluegills are hitting waxies. For perch, fish eight feet of water right on drop-offs with crappie minnows or fatheads.”
Ice conditions are very good, says Al at Pastika’s, with excellent driving conditions.
“Walleye fishing is fair to good and better just before and into dark. Fish weeds in 14-17 feet of water with walleye sucker and shiners under tip-ups or jig fatheads. Fish weeds for northerns with shiners for action and large northern suckers for trophies. Crappies are suspending in deeper water, and some are holding close to the bottom. Use crappie minnows, waxies, spikes, and plastics. Bluegills are taking waxies, spikes, and plastics near weeds and cribs. Perch action is good on the bottom in 15-25 feet of water with fatheads on jigs, jigging spoons, and tip-ups.”
At Hayward Bait, Bob says ice conditions are awesome and most lakes have16 inches or more of ice.
“Walleye anglers are having success in 10-25 feet of water fishing walleye suckers and shiners under tip-ups or jigging fatheads and rosy reds. For northerns, use northern suckers or shiners in 8-15 feet of water. Catch crappies in 15-25 feet by jigging grubs and plastics, or with crappie minnows and rosy reds under tip-downs. Bluegills, in 5-15 feet, are taking teardrops tipped with waxies, spikes, and plastics.”
According to DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt, conditions are good on nearly all lakes. Ice depths are holding at 12-15 inches, with 6-8 inches of light, grainy snow on top. Snowmobiles and four-wheel-drives are accessing most lake areas and slush is not a problem.
“Fishing success is approaching mid-winter lows,” Sommerfeldt says. “Some lakes have poor success, others have good action. Check with local bait shops to learn about those hot spots.”
The biologist says walleye action is very erratic and on some lakes, fish are extremely finicky.
“For about 20 minutes, about an hour before dark, the fish are on mud/sand flats in 5-8 feet of water hitting large fatheads or small walleye suckers. Meet all those conditions or you will not catch many walleye.
“Northern action is decent during mid-day with shiners or large northern suckers near weed beds. Many shallow, weedy pike lakes show lower oxygen levels near bottom and anglers may need to move their bait closer to the surface.
“Panfish action, particularly for bluegills and perch, is more consistent. Crappies are tougher to find. Bluegills are taking waxies just off bottom in 10-15 feet of water, and perch are hitting small fatheads in 5-10 feet of water.”
The January 24 Hayward Lakes Visitors and Convention Bureau trail report indicates 12-18 inches of snow cover and excellent trail conditions. Trails 3, 5, and 21 around Moose Lake are in great condition. Until the confusion is resolved with Trail 30 by the Casino, work your way through the Casino, motor home, and Subway parking lots. The Sawyer County-Washburn County segment of the Tuscobia State Trail is open to ATV use.
Trail closures include: Trail 25 south from the Tuscobia to Big Bear Lodge on the way to Rusk County (use trail 36 as an alternate); Trail 40 from the Tuscobia mouth to Trail 25/Dead Horse (use Trail 25 as an alternate); Trail 29 from Little Round Lake to Trail 30 (use trails 9 and 3 as alternates.)
The Namakagon Trails Report of January 22 says trails are in excellent condition. Both groomers are running and only the high traffic spots are a little rough.
The January 20 Lakewoods Resort trail report says trails are snow covered, groomed, and in good to great condition. Groomers are steadily grooming the daily lake-effect snow (amounting to a couple inches every few days.) The Lake Namakagon trail is in good condition with smooth surfaces. When traveling the narrows between Middle and Upper lakes, watch for a plowed area within 50 yards of the southwest side of the trail.
Upcoming Events
Jan. 25: Winter crow season opened.
Jan. 29: Schultz’s Resort beach party Northwoods Humane Society fundraiser (715-945-2223.)
Jan. 29: Northwest Relic Riders Big Boyz Toyz Vintage Ride (Winter.)
Jan. 31: Seasons Close: Squirrel; Ruffed grouse in northern zone.
Feb. 5: Cable Rod and Gun Club Ice Fishing Contest on Lake Namakagon (715-798-4459.)
Feb. 5: Northwest Relic Riders 5th Annual Kaye Johnson Memorial vintage snowmobile ride.
Feb. 12: Walleyes for Northwest Wisconsin Family Ice Fishing Event (715-634-2921.)
Feb. 15: Seasons Close: Coyote trapping; Raccoon; Red and gray fox.
Feb. 24-26: American Birkebeiner (715-634-5025.)
Feb. 28: Seasons Close: Cottontail rabbit; Mink trapping.
March 4-6: World’s Longest Weenie Roast Lakewoods Resort
March 4-6: Hayward National Snocross, LCO Casino Lodge and Convention Center.
For more information on area events and activities, see the Calendar of Events, visit Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau, or call 1-800-724-2992.